Logo

Sports

Australia breaks Peru's World Cup dream with substitute goalkeeper 

The Australian star was sophomore goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, who replaced the starter in the extra time of the World Cup qualifier against Peru and saved the decisive penalty kick

By Andy Leal Cerdá

June 13, 2022 9:08pm

Updated: June 14, 2022 3:29pm

It’s a dark day for South American soccer. Once again, Australia eliminated a South American team in a World Cup playoff penalty shootout. After beating Uruguay on the road to Germany 2006, the "Socceroos" now shattered the hopes of Peru, who were dreaming of playing in their second consecutive World Cup after Russia 2018. Substitute goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne was the star of Australia's victory over Peru 5-4 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

The intercontinental playoff, played at Qatar's Al-Rayyan Stadium, ended goalless after extra time in a match where the Inca team was unable to impose its creative soccer against the organized Australian defense. 

Peru suffered in the last minutes and goalkeeper Pedro Gallese had to appear to prevent the goal of the Oceanic team after a shot by Jackson Irvine. The team led by Ricardo "Tigre" Gareca had its chance in extra time with a header by Edison Flores that hit the post of the goal defended by Australian captain Matt Ryan.

In the final minute of extra time, coach Graham Arnold played his surprise card by bringing on substitute goalkeeper and penalty specialist Redmayne. The goalkeeper was influential in Luis Advíncula's miss and saved the decisive penalty taken by Peru's Alex Valera to give Australia a 5-4 win in the shootout.

Before each of Peru's penalty kicks, Redmayne, who was only in his third international appearance, danced on the goal line in an attempt to distract his opponent. The strategy worked. Redmayne came into play specifically for the penalty shootout and emerged as a hero, while coach Arnold looked like a genius.

Australia will now compete in its fifth consecutive World Cup, a streak it began in 2006. The team will take its place in Group D along with France, Denmark, and Tunisia. 

For Peru, it seems to be the end of the cycle of a historic generation led by Gareca, with Gallese, Advíncula, Yotún, Tapia, Cueva, and André Carrillo, who made the country dream of another World Cup.

The latest